Safety razor



e. 18, 1936. J. F. MELLEN 2,@3L223 SAFETY RAZOR Filed July 2, 1955 Patented Feb. 18, 1936 UNITED STATES rPATENT O'FFlE 2 Claims.

Myi invention .relates to that type ofsafety razor, ormount for )a safety 'razor blade, -wherein reciprocatory motion is impartedto the blade transverselyfof the direction of-thedrawing movev ment.

Certain objects of my invention are to generally facilitate and speed the severance of the beard from "the flesh, `and to prevent blade cuts, and skin scraping.

Further objects are to provide in a blade carrier the functions of both a container and a clamp; to facilitate the insertion and removal of the blade therefrom; and to effect these results in an inexpensive and compact structure having a minimum of parts.

Additional objects are to actuate the slidable carrier by a direct and positive means, thereby avoiding the friction incident to the presence of interposed gears, cams, worms, or other rotary elements, and to enable the actuating of the carrier to be initiated by a natural and. effortless movement of the operator.

Other objects and advantages will be hereinafter pointed out.

To all of the above ends essentially my invention consists in such parts and in such combinations of parts as fall within the scope of the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawing which forms a part of this specification,

Figures 1 and 2 are a side elevation and a top plan view respectively of a safety razor embodying my invention,

Figures 3, 4, and 5, sections of the same taken respectively on line 3-3 of Figure 2, and lines 4-4 and 5-5 of Figure 3,

Figure 6, a perspective view of the blade carrier in open position,

Figure 7, a fragmentary section taken on line 1-1 of Figure 3,

Figure 8, a detail perspective view of the operating lever, and

Figure 9, a similar view of the bushing and spring.

Like reference characters indicatelike parts throughout the views.

My device comprises a sectional tubular handle I3 fixed to or integral with which is a yoke shaped attaching plate I5. In this instance a plug I6 fast in the handle is riveted, as at I9, to the head portion of the plate. Lugs 2| upon the arm portions'of the plate are soldered or otherwise fixed to a transversely curved comb plate 23, provided in its top face with a central longitu- V dinal guideway 25 defined by marginal shoulders 26 adjacent the teeth 21 of the plate. A central rectangular opening 29v in the center of plate 23 merges in intermediate portions of interspaced longitudinal slots 30, as shown in Figure 5.

A `blade 'carrier 32, vas shown in Figure 6, comf5 prises a blade plate 33 and a clamping plate 34 connected at their adjacent ends by a hinge member 35. The second plate, composed of thin resilientmaterial, is provided at its free end with a perforation 38 to admit a resilient thumb catch 39 upon the first plate including a shoulder 46 to engage the second plate. The carrier plates 33 and 34 are both transversely curved but, as shown in Figure 4, the arc radius of the upper plate 34 is less than that of the lower plate 15 whereby the gripping power of the former upon a double edged razor blade 42 of usual construction interposed between the plates is increased.

The blade plate 33 is slidable in the gujdeway 25 with its upper face substantially ush with 20 the adjacent surface of the plate 23. Two interspaced hook shaped attaching or guide lugs 43, formed upon each lateral margin of the plate 33, depend through the slots 30 and underlap the plate 23 which they slidably engage. Interspaced 25 blade studs 44 longitudinally disposed upon the plate 33 centrally thereof are adapted to pass through the receiving holes 45 of the blade 42.

When it is desired to insert or substitute a blade in the carrier 32 the catch 39 is outwardly 30 pressed to release the plate 34 which is then swung open to give access to the plate 33.

For imparting reciprocatory movement to the blade carrier 32 a split bushing 46 is xed by friction or otherwise in an intermediate portion of 35 the handle VI3 and is provided with a vertical slot 41 to receive an upright at spring 48. Above the latter is journaled in diametrically opposite openings 50 in the handle a transversely plano convex rock shaft 5I to the ends of which are fixed 40 the legs 53 of a yoke lever 54 whose head 55 is provided with a slot 56 adapted to slidably receive a depending pin 51 fixed in the center of the blade plate 33. The lever 54 bridges the longitudinally disposed attaching plate I5. 59 repre- 45 sents washers interposed between the legs of the yoke lever and the handle.

A finger lever 6I comprises a shank 62 terminating in parallel offset ears 63 integral with its upper end provided with openings 65 through 50 which the shaft 5I passes, the shapes o-f the openings conforming to the transverse shape of the shaft to which the lever 6I is operatively fixed. The shank 62 of the lever is normally downwardly and slightly outwardly inclined and extends through a vertical slot 61 in the handle. Adjacent the ears, and in this instance integral therewith, are angular abutment projections 69 adapted to normally rest against the spring 48.

To utilize my device the operator grasps the handle I3 with the end of his advanced forenger engaging the outer face of the lever portion 62. By contracting the forefinger the lever is moved to its broken line position, shown in Figure 5, whereby, through the yoke lever, the carrier 32 is moved to the end of its travel in one direction. Thereupon the forenger is relaxed and the spring 48 returns the carrier to the limit of its travel in the opposite direction. The quick vibration of the forenger is continued during the period of drawing the razor blade over the face, with the result that the beard cutting is rendered more eiective and speedy, and tearing, cutting or other in injury to the skin avoided.

By use of the yoke lever 54 a more extended throw of the carrier is possible than by the use of a lever bar which from necessity would require mounting Within the handle where the extent of swing is limited.

The xed relation of both the finger lever 6I and yoke lever 54 With the rocking element 5| produces a positive and direct driving action to the carrier, and avoids the added friction caused by more complicated mechanical combinations.

The hinged relation of the constituent plates of the carrier make repeated relative adjustment of the plates unnecessary, insures against accidental loss of either of the latter, and facilitates the insertion and clampingof the blade.

I claim:-

1. In a safety razor, a handle, a plate above the handle provided with an opening, an ataching plate fixed intermediate its lengths to the end of lo the handle and fixed at' its ends to the first plate at opposite sides of the opening, a blade carrier slidably mounted on the rst plate over the opening, a rock shaft journaled in the handle, a yoke lever xed to the shaft and bridging the attaching plate pivotally connected with the carrier through the opening, and an operating lever fixed to the shaft.

2. In a safety razor, a handle, a comb plate supported by the handle provided with interspaced longitudinal slots and With'a' central opening, a blade carrier slidably mounted upon the comb plate, lugs upon the carrier engaging the comb plate through the slots, a shaft journaled in the handle, and a lever upon the rock shaft pivotally connected to the carrier through the opening.

JOSEPH F. MELLEN. 

